Aerosol valve device



NOV. 24, 1964 R, REMANE 3,158,326

AEROSOL VALVE DEVICE Filed July 5, 1961 @nii-imam@ j a um 23 A FIG. 2

/ ANW@ INVENTORQ ROGER REMANE ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,158,326 AERSL VALVE DEJECE Roger Romane, Sainte-Colonrbcdes-Vienne, France, as-

signor, by mean-e assignments, to Airliem, Inc., New

York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed July S, 1961, Ser. No. 122,921 Claims riority, application France .luly29, 1960 S Claims. (Ci. 239-573) This invention relates to improvements in aerosol valves, i.e., valves for atomizing containers intended to eject as a tine spray or aerosol products in suspension or in solution in a liquied gas under pressure which acts as a propelling agent. More particularly, the invention relates to an aersosol valve comprising an assemblage of rigid and movable valve parts forming a container closure, permitting rapid pressure filling of propelling agent and having detachably secured to the movable valve part a two-piece cap forming push-button and ow control means for actuating said valve.

ln the use and operation or" aerosol valves, it is important on the one hand to provide a small, accurately controlled discharge, to avoid useless or too rapid consumption of product as the valve is actuated, and on the other hand to provide for rapid lling of containers with the desired amount of liquied gas. According to one process in use at the present time, a container is filled with the liquiiied gas before attachment of the valve thereto by conducting the filling operation at a reduced temperature ranging from 20 C. to -3G C., which strongly reduces the vapor pressure of the liquiiied gas, and attaching or setting the valve to the container opening, while still at the reduced temperature. This process, which is known as cold iilling, permits rapid lling of containers, even though valves may be designed with very restricted passages to provide a suitable discharge, but the need for operating at sumciently low temperatures to maintain the gas liquiiied makes the process very expensive.

According to another process known as pressure illing, the valve, with the control cap or push-button removed, is rst attached to the container, and then through a pipe which envelops the valve and engages the container liquilied gas under pressure is forced through the valve into the container. While this process avoids the need for external cooling and is thus less expensive than the cold ll process, it is nevertheless diliicult to obtain valves which will permit rapid ow during tllling, enabling this operation to be completed in a short time, and will also provide a sufficiently small delivery when using the valve to pro duce an aerosol spray. None of the known valves fully satisiies these conditions, despite most elaborate embodiments which practically amount to the manufacture of double valves with different cross-sectional areas for'iilling and discharge.

The valve according to the present invention overcomes the problems above mentioned in a simple and practical way and is characterized in that it isdesigned to ensure, when open with push-button cap removed, la flowing area suliicient to permit fast lling with propelling agent, and further characterized in that a removable push-button cap containing an atomizing port is provided with a calirated passage, corresponding to the required delivery when in use, between the inside of the cap andthe atomiz` ing port. Thus, the new valve offers a large opening, sufiicient for fast lling, while the delivery is limited when in use by the push-button cap which is attached to the valve after filling.

By way of example, two forms or" embodiments of the invention are described hereafter and illustrated in axial section in FlG. l and FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawing as applied to a valve of a known type, in which a stationary valve member cooperates with a seat provided on 3,158,326 Patented Nov. 24, 1964;

ICC

an elastically distoitable diaphragm which secures the closing by action upon said diaphragm of the pressure existing in the container.

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional View of an entire -valve assemblage according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view of the top portion of the valve assemblage of FIG. l showing a modiiication in the cap construction.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a container opening 1 is provided with Ya shoulder 2 inwardly spaced from the edge 3 of the container opening, upon which a valve assemblage a is set or clamped by folding in of the edge 3, as shown. The valve assemblage a includes a substantially at rigid base member 4, having a downward tubular extension 5 to receive a conventional dip-tube, and a flexible, or elastically deformable diaphragm 6 having a central upward tubular extension 7 providing an annular valve seat 8 outwardly of said diaphragm. The base member 4 and diaphragm 6 are secured together by a valve member 9, having an enlarged head 10 engaging the valve seat 8, and an elongated stem `11 terminating in formed end 12 providing snap loclr engagement with a tapered aperture 12 centrally of the base 4.

The diameter of the'stem 11 is substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular extension 7, providing an annular passage 14 therebetween communicating with the chamber 15 between the base and diaphragm for rapid flow of fluid when the valve seat 8 is separated from the valve head 1li. Within the dip-tube extension 5, the base member is provided with iluid passage means 16, two being shown in the drawing, also communicating with 'the chamber 15 between the base and diaphragm, thus completing thepath of ow of .fluid through theA valve assemblage 51. v

`Certain details of the interengaging structure of the base 4 and diaphragm 6 as shown in the drawing are of particular significance in providing assemblage to a vcontainer which will be lluid tight in all conditions encountered in pressure illing, storage and use. It will be noted that the base Vmember 4 has an annular ribbed periphery 1'7 for downward bearing engagement with Lthe shoulder 2 of a container, andthe diaphragm 6 has an annular peripheral rib 18 in alinement with the rib 17 and around which the container edge 3 can be folded. Inwardly spaced from the rib 1S, the diaphragm 6 has a shallow cylindrical Wall 19 extending downwardly from the central thin walled portion 20, the inner surface of said cylindrical extension 19 slidably engaging theouter surface of an upwardly extending annular rib 21 on the base member. As the assemblage a is clamped in a container opening between the shoulder 2 and inturned edge 3, the compression on the ribs 17, 18 and resulting lateral pressure of the wall 19 against the rib 21 provides a most eiective seal between the base member and diaphragm. The seal can be further enhanced, if desired, by providing on opposed faces of the base and diaphragm small interttting annular rib and groove means, as indicated at 22.

A signiiicant'factor is the small volume of the chamber 15 provided by the intertting structure, as above described. At the Sametime, the chamber 15 is of sutlicient depth to permit full unseating of the valve head 1li as the central portion ofthe diaphragm is depressed.

- The push-button cap assemblage or discharge means pressure is applied to the push-button assemblage 23. The lower end of the body 24 also includes a flexible, laterally extending skirt 29 terminating in an annular, downwardly extending peripheral ange 39, which is disposed loosely between the cylindrical extension 19 of the diaphragm and the inturned edge 3 of the container. The skirt thus overlies and protects upper surfaces of the diaphragm.

The upper portion of the body 24 has a lateral passage or atomizing port 3i communicating with an enlarged diameter portion 32 of the upper bore 26. The plug 27 is of stepped cylindrical construction, having a lower end portion 33 extending throughout a major portion of its length and having a diameter to closely engage the bore 26, an intermediate portion 34 having a diameter to closely engage the bore 32, and an enlarged top flange 35 intertitting with an annular recess 36 for positioning and retaining the plug 27 in the tubular body 24. The elongated lower end 33 of the plug 27 extends a substantial distance into the enlarged diameter portion 32 to form an annular groove or expansion chamber 37 in alinement with the atomizing part 31.

At the engaged surfaces of the lower end 33 of the plug and the bore 26 of the tubular body, calibrated passage means is provided to establish communication between the expansion chamber 37 and the chamber 38 formed between the valve assemblage a and the pushbutton assemblage 23. As shown in FlG. 1 of the drawing, this passage is formed by a groove 397m the plug 27,

whereas, in the modification shown in FIG. 2, this passage is formed by a groove itl in the ktubular body 24. It will be apparent that, with either form of construction, the parts can be readily molded, preferably from plastic material. Also, the calibrated passage provided by the groove 3% or the groove 4G can be modilied in crosssectional area, and resulting flowV capacity, to properly control the discharge rate for different aerosol products to be dispensed. The modilication shown in FIG. l is considered preferable since with the construction the assemblage a and the tubular body Zdcan be the same for all valves and plugs 27 with the appropriate sized passage or groove 39 can be inserted according to the requirements of the aerosol product to be dispensed.

The lower face il of the plug 27 is suliiciently spaced from the valve head itl to permit downward iiexure on the central portion 2u of the diaphragm and unseating of the valve seat 8 as downward linger pressure is applied to the push-button assemblage 23. As long as the pushbutton assemblage is depressed, there will be a ow of container contents through the passages 15, chamber 15, o

passage 314, chamber 3S, passage 39 (or 4b), and chamber 37 with linal .discharge through the atomizing port 3l.

When finger pressure is released, the internal pressure inl chamber 15 acting against the central portion 2t? of the diaphragm re-engages the valve seat 8 and valve head l@ to stop the discharge of container contents.

When the new valve is to be employed in the preferred pressure lling technique, the valve assemblage a is attached to a container, prelilled with the desired quantity of product to be dispensed, by placing the assemblage a in the container opening and turning over the edge 3 to clamp and seal the ribs 1'?, 18 againstthe shoulder 2. The top of the container is then engaged by.

a pipe feeding propellant gas under pressure and the pressure of the gas brings about a downward distortion of the central portion 2d of the diaphragm and a suflicient separation of the valve seat S from the valve head 9 to permit fast filling of the container with propellant gas. After iilling with propellant, the push-button assemblage 23, with the appropriate size passage 39 (or 4i!) for the particular product, is slid over the tubular extension 7.

of the diaphragm and the aerosol package is complete and ready for use,

I claim:

l. An aerosol valve device comprising a substantially lat rigid base member having an annular downwardly ribbed periphery adapted for downward bearing engagement with annular bearing means of a container part, a flexible diaphragm having an annular ribbed periphery adapted for duid-tight bearing engagement with the periphery of said base member, thereby forming between said diaphragm and base member a iiuid chamber, said base member having an aperture permitting communication between said liuid chamber and the interior of an associated container, said diaphragm having a center opening providing an annular valve seat outwardly of said diaphragm, a valve member having an enlarged portion registering with said valve seat and an elongated stem extending through said fluid chamber and interlocked with retaining means on said base member, the tension of said Flexible diaphragm acting to normally support said valve seat in engagement with said valve member while permitting the disengagement of said valve member and seat in the downward liexing of said diaphragm, and the central portion of said flexible diaphragm being closely spaced from said base member whereby said liuid charnber is shallow and of limited fluid capacity.

2. An aerosol valve device as defined in claim l where1 in the base member has on the upper surface thereof an annular, upwardly extending rib providing a vertical outer circumferential surface for slidable interlitting with a verticalV inner circumferential surface on said ilexible diaphragm. Y

3. An aerosol valve device as defined in claim l wherein said flexible diaphragm includes a main central portion of essentially circular thin walled structure joining at its outer edge a thin walled shallow cylindrical downward extension, the inner surface of said cylindrical extension slidably engaging the outer surface of an upwardly protruding annular rib on said base member.

4. An aerosol valve device as defined in claim l wherein said liexible diaphragm includes a main central portion of essentially circular thin walled structure joining at its outer edge a thin walled shallow cylindrical downward extension, the inner surface of said cylindrical ex- Y tension slidably engaging the outer Vsurface of an upwardly protruding annular rib on said base member, and said flexible diaphragm having outwardly of said cylindrical extension and radially spaced therefrom an upwardly extending annular rib, the outer circumferential surface of said rib being in common alignment with the downwardly ribbed periphery of said base member.

5. An aerosol valve device as defined in claim l wherein said flexible diaphragm includes a main central portion of essentially circular thin Walled structure joining at its outer edge a thin walled shallow cylindrical downward extension, the inner surface of said cylindrical ex-l tension slidably engaging the outer surface of an upwardly protruding annular rib on said base member, said valve seat being in a hub part'protruding upwardly from said central portion of the diaphragm, discharge means for said valve having slidable engagement with the outer surface of said hub part, said. discharge means including a llexible skirt overlying and protecting the central portion of said diaphragm, the major portion of said skirt being spaced from said flexible diaphragm by downwardly protruding means having annular bearing engagement with said diaphragm adjacent the hub part thereof.

6, A 'detachable cap for atomizing valves comprising two intertting parts, one of said parts being an essentially tubular sleeve having means at one end for telescopic engagement with an atomizing valve, the other of said parts being an essentially cylindrical plug telescopically fitting within the other end of said sleeve, said plug having a shallow top section of maximum diameter, an intermediate section of substantially reduced diameter and a bottom section having a diameter slightly less than said intermediate section with the length or said bottom section being y greater than the length of said intermediate section, said sleeve having an outer bore, an intermediate bore, and an inner bore for closely receiving respectively the top, intermediate and bottom sections of said plug, the intermediate bore of said sleeve being of approximately the same length as the bottom section of said plug whereby in assembled position there is formed an annular chamber between said sleeve and plug, a radial discharge orifice Within said sleeve in alignment with said annular chamber, and means forming a iluid passage between the bottom section of said plug and inner bore of said sleeve communicating with said annular chamber.

7. A detachable cap for atomizing valves as dened in claim 6 wherein said last named passage is formed by groove means in said plug.

8. A detachable cap for atomizing valves as defined in claim 7 wherein said last named passage is formed by groove means in said sleeve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,652 Carlsson et al Aug. 17, 1954 2,881,808 Germain Apr. 14, 1959 2,883,090 Reman Apr. 21, 1959 2,906,461 Bretz Sept. 29, 1959 2,908,297 Carlsson Oct. 13, 1959 2,952,278 Waldherr Sept. 13, 1960 2,989,251 Abplanalp et al. June 20, 1961 3,064,696 Gruenewald Nov. 20, 1962 3,076,609 Stocker Feb. 5, 1963 

1. AN AEROSOL VALVE DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RIGID BASE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR DOWNWARDLY RIBBED PERIPHERY ADAPTED FOR DOWNWARD BEARING ENGAGEMENT WITH ANNULAR BEARING MEANS OF A CONTAINER PART, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM HAVING AN ANNULAR RIBBED PERIPHERY ADAPTED FOR FLUID-TIGHT BEARING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BASE MEMBER, THEREBY FORMING BETWEEN SAID DIAPHRAGM AND BASE MEMBER A FLUID CHAMBER, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE PERMITTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FLUID CHAMBER AND THE INTERIOR OF AN ASSOCIATED CONTAINER, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING A CENTER OPENING PROVIDING AN ANNULAR VALVE SEAT OUTWARDLY OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, A VALVE MEMBER HAVING AN ENLARGED PORTION REGISTERING WITH SAID VALVE SEAT AND AN ELONGATED STEM 